We are pleased to announce that Seismosoft will participate in the 18th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering (ECEE 2026), taking place from the 14th to the 18th of September 2026 in Berlin, Germany.

As a premier event in the field, ECEE 2026 will bring together researchers, engineers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world to exchange knowledge and explore the latest developments in earthquake and structural engineering.

We invite all attendees to visit Seismosoft at Booth #1. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet our technical team, discover our latest software solutions, and discuss how our advanced analytical tools can support your specific projects in structural analysis, seismic assessment, and retrofitting.

Event Details:

• Dates: 14–18 September 2026
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Exhibition Stand: Booth #1
• Official Website: Learn more about ECEE 2026

We look forward to meeting you in Berlin!

On August 10, 2026, at 7:34 a.m. local time, Colombia was struck by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, with its epicenter located in the municipality of San José del Palmar, Chocó Department. The Colombian Geological Survey (SGC)—the country’s official authority on seismic activity—reported a depth of 103 km and located the event at coordinates 4.99° N latitude and 76.29° W longitude. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also reported a magnitude of 7.4, although it estimated a slightly greater depth of 107 km.

Figure 1. Relative location of San José del Palmar
Source: Google Earth

Figure 2. Seismic event report
Source: Colombian Geological Survey (SGC)

The mainshock was instrumentally recorded for approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes by the monitoring stations closest to the epicenter. The earthquake was strongly felt in cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Bogotá, Armenia, Medellín, and Popayán, with reports also received from Panama and Venezuela.

The SGC confirmed that this was the highest-magnitude earthquake recorded in Colombia so far in the 21st century. The event was caused by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate, a tectonic interaction characteristic of Colombia’s Pacific region. Authorities ruled out a tsunami threat along the Colombian Pacific coast.

According to the most recent update from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), dated August 25, 2026, the earthquake resulted in the following impacts:

Table 1. Summary of earthquake impacts

Affected infrastructure includes:

• 378 health centers
• 3,731 educational centers
• 4,170 community centers
• 441 roads
• 5 airports
• 118 aqueducts
• 73 vehicular bridges
• 16 pedestrian bridges

In addition, 5,884 buildings were damaged and 603 collapsed.

SEISMIC RECORDS

The mainshock of August 10, 2026, was recorded by stations belonging to the Red Sismológica Nacional de Colombia (RSNC) and the Red Nacional de Acelerógrafos de Colombia (RNAC) networks that are operated by the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC). To date, 86 records have been obtained. Table 2 presents the stations that recorded the highest accelerations.

Table 2. Seismic records with the highest accelerations

The FLND station in Filandia recorded the highest horizontal acceleration during the event, reaching acceleration values close to 0.5g. The Anserma station (CANSE) that is closer to the epicenter—61 km compared with 82 km for Filandia—recorded a lower acceleration of approximately 300 cm/s². This difference indicates a pronounced site effect, or local amplification, in the Filandia area and the wider Coffee Triangle region, likely associated with volcanic ash deposits and soft soils that amplify seismic waves. In most of the records the duration of the strong motion was high (sometimes more than 60 seconds) indicating the large magnitude of the earthquake.

The vertical component (Z) is notably lower than the horizontal components. For the peak values, the vertical-to-horizontal ratios were approximately:

• Filandia: 21% of the horizontal component
• Circasia: 19% of the horizontal component

These ratios, which are broadly consistent with typical values of approximately 0.2 to 0.3, indicate that the predominant ground motion was horizontal, as is characteristic of S-waves and surface waves associated with intermediate-depth earthquakes. No anomalous vertical peaks were observed that would suggest significant liquefaction effects or near-surface tectonic uplift.

The Seismosoft team imported several of the recordings into SeismoSignal and SeismoSignal 3D and generated the response spectra for the X, Y, and Z directions, the more important strong motion parameters (Acceleration/Velocity/Displacement RMS, Characteristic Intensity, Arias Intensity, Housner Intensity, Specific Energy Density, Cumulative Absolute Velocity, Significant and Uniform Duration), as well as the RotD100 and RotD50 spectra. The results were particularly noteworthy. In some cases, the spectral acceleration exceeded 2.0 g, and the Significant durations of the signal reached values of more than 50 seconds.

Figure 3. Screenshots from SeismoSignal 3D

Figure 4. Screenshots from SeismoSignal

Several recordings are available from the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), which is gradually releasing the corrected acceleration time histories.

Report time: Approximately 18:00 UTC / 13:00 Colombia time

Status: Developing; seismic parameters, casualty figures and damage assessments may be revised.

Executive summary

A major earthquake struck western Colombia at 07:34:29 local time on Monday, 10 August 2026—12:34:29 UTC—with its epicentral area near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. The Colombian Geological Service, or SGC, currently lists a magnitude of 7.4 and a depth of 96 kilometers (link). The US Geological Survey independently gives a reviewed magnitude of 7.4 Mww, a depth of 107 kilometers, and a location approximately five kilometers east of San José del Palmar.

Severe damage has been reported in parts of western and central Colombia, particularly around Pereira and Risaralda, Cali and Valle del Cauca, Manizales, Quibdó and Buenaventura. Reuters’ latest available update reported at least 111 deaths, while other major outlets were carrying lower totals at different update times. A cautious preliminary description is therefore at least 70 fatalities, pending a single consolidated government count (Reuters). Rescue operations were continuing at collapsed or seriously damaged structures, and operations were temporarily suspended at several regional airports for inspections.

Colombia’s maritime authority, DIMAR, determined that the earthquake did not have the characteristics necessary to generate a tsunami on the Colombian Pacific coast and said that no further tsunami action was required.

Seismological assessment

Origin and location. The mainshock occurred at 12:34 UTC, close to San José del Palmar. The small differences between the SGC and USGS epicentral locations and depths reflect the use of separate station networks, velocity models and processing methods. Both agencies nevertheless agree that this was a magnitude-7.4, intermediate-depth earthquake.

Depth and source. A hypocentral depth of approximately 96–107 kilometers places the earthquake in the intermediate-depth category rather than among shallow crustal earthquakes. USGS regional information describes this part of Colombia as an area where the Nazca Plate descends beneath South America and where earthquakes occur inside the subducted slab at depths of roughly 70–300 kilometers. The present depth and location are therefore consistent with a rupture within the descending Nazca slab, although a final focal-mechanism or moment-tensor solution is needed to determine the exact style and orientation of faulting.

The intermediate depth probably contributed to the unusually broad felt area: shaking was reported across much of Colombia and in parts of Ecuador, Panama and western Venezuela. Depth can spread seismic energy over a wide region, but it does not prevent serious damage from an earthquake of this magnitude, particularly where buildings are vulnerable or local ground conditions amplify motion.

Aftershocks. Several smaller earthquakes occurred soon after the mainshock. The SGC recorded a magnitude-4.8 event at 08:18 local time, at a depth of 88 kilometers near San José del Palmar, followed by additional smaller events. Aftershock locations and magnitudes may continue to be adjusted as analysts review the sequence.

Tsunami assessment. DIMAR’s National Tsunami Warning Centre used the SGC parameters—magnitude 7.4 and depth 96 kilometers—and concluded that the inland, relatively deep earthquake lacked the characteristics required to produce a tsunami affecting Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Preliminary impacts

The most serious early reports came from the western departments and the Coffee Region. Reuters reported that Risaralda had the largest identified share of fatalities, while buildings were damaged or collapsed in Pereira, Cali, Manizales, Quibdó and Buenaventura. People remained trapped at several locations in Cali, and emergency teams were requested from Bogotá and Medellín.

Air transport was also disrupted. Flights were suspended at airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura while engineers checked terminals and other infrastructure. Reports from Pereira showed significant damage at Matecaña International Airport.

The national response included emergency coordination among central and territorial authorities, deployment or preparation of specialist rescue personnel, structural inspections and searches of collapsed buildings. Because communications, access and reporting from affected municipalities remain uneven, the current totals for fatalities, injuries and damaged homes should not yet be treated as final.

Principal uncertainties to monitor

The next assessments should clarify the consolidated casualty and injury totals; the number of collapsed, unsafe or uninhabitable buildings; the condition of hospitals, roads, bridges, airports and utilities; and whether landslides have isolated rural communities.

On the scientific side, important forthcoming information includes the final hypocentre, moment-tensor solution, maximum observed shaking intensity, USGS ShakeMap and PAGER revisions, and the spatial development of the aftershock sequence. Aftershocks are expected following a mainshock of this size, but their exact timing and magnitude cannot be predicted.

Seismological and official links

Servicio Geológico Colombiano — mainshock event page: magnitude, depth, origin time and event identification.

SGC live earthquake viewer: continuously updated Colombian seismic catalogue.

SGC “Sismo Sentido” portal: official public felt and effects reporting form.

USGS event page: reviewed earthquake parameters and access to ShakeMap, impact and felt-report products.

USGS regional tectonic information: subduction and intermediate-depth seismicity around western Colombia.

DIMAR tsunami bulletin: official determination that there was no tsunami threat to Colombia’s Pacific coast.

News links

Reuters: latest wire-service casualty, damage, rescue and airport information.

Associated Press: field reporting from affected cities and information from regional officials.

The Guardian: latest news

El Espectador: Spanish-language explanation of the SGC magnitude revision and early aftershock sequence.

Caracol Radio: local reporting on affected departments and emergency coordination.

Map image by earthquake.usgs.gov

At 18:04 local time on 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela was struck by a major earthquake initially reported by the USGS as magnitude 7.2. About 39 seconds later, a second, larger M7.5 event occurred nearby. The epicentral area lay around San Felipe and Morón, within the Yaracuy–Carabobo region, roughly 160 km west of Caracas. USGS solutions placed the two shocks at shallow depths of about 22 km and 10 km, respectively. Given the less-than-a-minute separation, magnitudes, depths and the interpretation of the sequence may be further refined as more data are reviewed.

The close timing makes this an unusual and scientifically important sequence. It may ultimately be described as a foreshock–mainshock pair, a seismic doublet, or two major pulses within a complex rupture. What is already clear is that the M7.5 shock released substantially more energy than the first event and produced severe shaking across a densely populated corridor. Tremors were reported throughout Venezuela and in parts of Colombia and Brazil.

The humanitarian impact is still developing. Early on 25 June, Venezuelan authorities reported at least 32 deaths and 700 injuries, with the figures excluding severely affected La Guaira at that stage. Buildings collapsed in Caracas and other communities; power and communications were disrupted; Simón Bolívar International Airport was closed; and a national state of emergency was declared. A regional tsunami threat message was issued shortly after the earthquakes, then cancelled once the threat had passed.

The sequence occurred within the broad boundary zone between the Caribbean and South American plates, where deformation is distributed across major strike-slip fault systems. Shallow crustal earthquakes in this setting can generate intense ground motion close to the source, while local soils, topography, construction quality and structural irregularities strongly influence damage.

For structural engineers, the immediate priorities are rapid safety assessment, controlled access to damaged buildings and continued monitoring during aftershocks. Structures that have lost stiffness, strength or load-path continuity may be especially vulnerable to subsequent shaking. In the longer term, recorded motions and field observations should support nonlinear response-history studies, fragility assessment and calibration of loss models for reinforced-concrete and masonry construction.

Open, rapidly updated datasets are essential for independent verification and engineering decisions during response, recovery and planning. This disaster is a stark reminder that seismic resilience depends not only on hazard maps, but also on code enforcement, retrofit programmes, emergency planning and transparent access to high-quality data for safer future communities.

Seismological data

• USGS first shock — event us6000t7zc: origin parameters, felt reports and technical products.
• USGS M7.5 event — us6000t7zp: event summary, ShakeMap and downloadable products.
• USGS PAGER assessment: modelled shaking consequences and loss estimates—not confirmed casualty totals.
• USGS moment-tensor solution: seismic moment, Mww and source parameters.
• EMSC reviewed solution: independent event parameters and felt reports.
• FUNVISIS: Venezuela’s national seismic service.
• INGV rapid scientific analysis: discussion of the closely spaced sequence.
• GDACS and PTWC tsunami messages: initial threat messages and subsequent cancellation.

News reports

• Reuters — casualties, damage and emergency response
• Associated Press — latest national impact and aid response
• The Guardian — live updates
• El País — Spanish-language report

On June 8, 2026, a major earthquake with a moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.8 occurred offshore of Sarangani, Philippines. As detailed in the official primer released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), this significant tectonic event highlights the highly active seismic nature of the region and generates vital data for the global engineering and scientific community.

For seismologists, academic researchers, and structural engineers, events of this magnitude provide critical empirical data that drive the evolution of seismic design, structural assessment, and retrofitting methodologies. At Seismosoft, our focus remains on providing the analytical tools necessary to translate raw seismic records into actionable engineering insights.

Processing Strong Ground Motion Data

The foundational step in post-earthquake structural analysis involves the rigorous processing of strong-motion records captured by official local seismic networks. Researchers and academics utilize software such as SeismoSignal and SeismoSpect to process raw accelerograms derived from events like the Sarangani earthquake. Procedures including baseline correction, digital filtering, and the derivation of elastic and inelastic response spectra are essential to accurately quantify the frequency content, peak ground parameters, and overall intensity of the ground shaking.

Record Matching for Time-History Analysis

For structural engineers tasked with evaluating infrastructure resilience in the Philippines and similar tectonic settings, utilizing real earthquake records is an invaluable practice. Software such as SeismoMatch allows professionals to adjust the time-histories recorded during the Sarangani event to match target design response spectra dictated by the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) or other international standards. These matched records can subsequently be employed in rigorous non-linear dynamic time-history analyses, providing a highly realistic simulation of how specific structures respond to regional seismic loading.

Structural Assessment and Targeted Retrofitting

A primary concern following a high-magnitude offshore event is assessing the structural integrity of the existing building stock, particularly in coastal and adjacent mainland areas subjected to long-duration shaking. Evaluating potential vulnerabilities and designing appropriate retrofitting strategies requires advanced non-linear analytical capabilities.

Tools like SeismoBuild and SeismoStruct enable engineers to model complex reinforced concrete structures, perform static pushover or dynamic analyses, and accurately predict the formation of plastic hinges, interstorey drifts, and potential failure mechanisms. This level of analytical depth is crucial for professionals developing targeted strengthening schemes, such as FRP wrapping or concrete jacketing, ensuring that existing structures are upgraded to withstand future seismic demands.

Advancing Global Seismic Resilience

The Mw 7.8 Offshore Sarangani earthquake serves as a critical case study for both the academic and professional engineering communities. By bridging the gap between raw seismological data and practical structural response, the industry can continuously refine its approach to seismic risk mitigation.

As the situation develops, we are closely monitoring the release of official seismological records. If detailed strong ground motion data from this event becomes publicly available through official seismic networks, the Seismosoft team will process these records through our software suite and publish further technical insights and data for the engineering community.

Seismosoft is very pleased to announce a new partnership with Project Solutions and Services, officially welcoming them to our global network as a new distributor of our structural analysis and earthquake engineering software in Panama.

This collaboration reflects Seismosoft’s ongoing commitment to expanding its global presence and providing structural engineers, researchers, and academic institutions with highly accessible, localized support across Latin America. By joining our established network of distributors, Project Solutions and Services will help us meet the continuously growing demand for reliable and advanced seismic assessment tools, including our flagship products, SeismoBuild and SeismoStruct.

As the structural engineering industry in Panama continues to emphasize rigorous seismic design and retrofitting standards, it is vital that local professionals have seamless access to state-of-the-art analytical tools. Project Solutions and Services brings valuable local expertise and a strong dedication to serving the civil and structural engineering community.

Through this new partnership, professionals in Panama will have a great additional avenue to acquire individual software licenses, explore comprehensive software bundles, and receive dedicated, localized customer service.
We look forward to a highly successful collaboration with the Project Solutions and Services team as we continue to empower the global engineering community.

For more information, or to inquire about Seismosoft products through our new distributor, please contact them directly at:

Project Solutions & Services
Altos del Chase N° 46-F, Ave. de La Amistad,
El Dorado, Panamá
Website: https://projectser.com/

Find a Local Distributor
Seismosoft software is used by engineers worldwide. To find an official reseller or distributor near your location, please explore our global network here: https://seismosoft.com/resellers/

Seismosoft is very pleased to announce a new partnership with Infrasys Inc., officially welcoming them to our global network as a new distributor of our structural analysis and earthquake engineering software in the Philippines.

This collaboration reflects Seismosoft’s ongoing commitment to expanding its global presence and providing structural engineers, researchers, and academic institutions with highly accessible, localized support. By joining our established network of distributors in the region, Infrasys Inc. will help us meet the continuously growing demand for reliable and advanced seismic assessment tools, including our flagship products, SeismoBuild and SeismoStruct.

As the structural engineering industry in the Philippines continues to emphasize rigorous seismic design and retrofitting standards, it is vital that local professionals have seamless access to state-of-the-art analytical tools. Infrasys Inc. brings valuable local expertise and a strong dedication to serving the civil and structural engineering community.

Through this new partnership, professionals in the Philippines will have a great additional avenue to acquire individual software licenses, explore comprehensive software bundles, and receive dedicated, localized customer service.

We look forward to a highly successful collaboration with the Infrasys team as we continue to empower the global engineering community.

For more information, or to inquire about Seismosoft products through our new distributor, please contact them directly at:

Infrasys Inc. 316 Bldg. M, One Oasis Hub B, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, 1608 PHILIPPINES

Website: https://www.infrasys.com.ph/

Find a Local Distributor

Seismosoft software is used by engineers worldwide. To find an official reseller or distributor near your location, please explore our global network here: https://seismosoft.com/resellers/

Seismosoft is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the one-day specialized technical workshop on “Innovative Systems for Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation” that will take place on 22 May 2026 at the Eugenides Foundation in Athens, Greece. The event is organized by the Anti-Seismic Systems International Society (ASSISi).

This one-day specialized technical workshop will bring together professionals, academic experts, decision-makers, industry leaders, public officials, and specialists from Greece and abroad to discuss advanced earthquake protection technologies and promote seismic resilience through seismic isolation and energy dissipation systems.

The workshop addresses a highly relevant topic for modern structural and earthquake engineering. While conventional seismic design has been effective in preventing collapse and reducing human losses, seismic isolation and energy dissipation systems offer an important step forward by helping reduce seismic demand, limit damage, support faster functional recovery, and improve the resilience of critical infrastructure. The workshop will feature presentations, real-life applications, worked examples, and a technical site visit to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center for international visitors.

As a sponsor, Seismosoft is proud to support an event that promotes technical excellence, innovation, and international collaboration in the field of earthquake engineering. Seismosoft will also contribute to the technical programme, with S. Antoniou from Seismosoft presenting “The Use of Seismic Isolation for the Seismic Rehabilitation of a RC Building.” We look forward to meeting colleagues, clients, researchers, and partners in Athens and to contributing to the discussion on the future of seismic isolation, energy dissipation, and resilient structural design.